4 Forte

Paru-paru, an extremely rare type of butterfly that could only be found in very cold temperature areas. Most preferably at the top of the mountains where the snow is pouring non-stop.

When Geraldine was still a spear, she saw a document regarding those poisonous butterflies which could be used as a killing machine but in an attempt to do it is risky.

Several people attempted to get it but failed and they die uselessly. It's because, to obtain the Paru-paru, you need to have a strong poison running through your veins to attract them.

Poison intake is a very dangerous thing to do. Many nobles hired peasants who are clueless and blinded them with gold coins as payment for their services. They were forced to feed poison every day and increased the dosage every month but not a single person survived after 3 days of poison intake. The longest one lasted a weak but died afterward.

These poisonous butterfly eggs are hard to obtain but hatching and training them is extremely exhausting and dangerous to a normal person. No person in history was able to hatch nor train them and Geraldine wanted to be the first one on the list.

Walking over to the bookshelves, she picks a book about poisonous plants. She planned to create her own poison rather than buy it on the black market. After all, she wanted to stay lowkey and be seen as a girl with no ulterior motive. It won't be hard for her as she's always been disregarded and treated as nothing of importance.

Blowing the dust away from the book, Geraldine placed it on the table and open the old pages. It's clearly visible that no one takes interest in plants in her family and the gardener and servants didn't even bother to wipe the dust and webs away from the books, they didn't know that these books are more important than their lives. Flipping the pages, she was looking for a certain plant as her first plant to work.

Rambootan, a fruit in red color with spikes on its outer shell that serves as a protective layer. The inside of it is a soft white flesh that contains a large seed in the middle. They say that the flesh inside is sweet but poisonous, a very good trap to those who get tempted to eat it.

"This plant is a good start, after all, nobody knows how poisonous this Rambootan, yet," A smile played on her lips as she grabs a piece of paper and pen to take down notes about the location and on how to grow the plant.

In the current year, Rambootan is still considered as a fruit for those travelers who are hungry along the way. Its poison is a slow penetrating one and the person who ate this fruit will feel the effects after a month and if left untreated, that person will likely die.

Closing the book, Geraldine inhaled the fragrance of the fresh plants surrounding her, with kind eyes, she pitied them.

"You poor thing, relying on humans to survive, how awful it might feel," Geraldine touched the leaf of a flowering plant in front of her, "You are supposed to be free and could live on your own but the humans decided to take you away from your home with force because they find you pretty and valuable. Then they put you in these cages and wait for your masters to feed you with water."

Geraldine couldn't help but compare herself to the plants, she forced herself to achieve the final level at the thought that maybe her family could finally accept her. When she came to the spotlight, the Emperor takes a liking to her and offered her to be by his side. After she knows what that offer really means, she begs the Emperor to set her free and go back to her family but she was forced to become a spear. Patiently waiting for the servants to feed her to live for another day.

Geraldine chuckled at the past memories. Unlike before, she would brawl her eyes at these thoughts but now, it was nothing to her but only a painful lesson to teach her how to be strong.

Closing the book, she carried it with her as she went out of the greenhouse. As usual, the garden is empty with no humans in sight. She slowly walked towards her room, feeling the soft breeze against her skin.

*I am strong!*

These words struck like lightning in her mind, she could feel the surge of greater mana inside her, almost choked her by its enormous amount. Geraldine didn't know why the mana she accumulated for 1,000 years is still alive and breathing inside her body. She thought that it would vanish because she goes back to her old body with no power or strength.

*I can feel it, the mana of the thousands' people died upon my spear harmonized and fused with my soul.*

*I could not escape this burden but I must live through it.*

Geraldine could feel the heavy weight on her chest, making it difficult for her to breathe. Falling on the soft grass, she punched her chest in an attempt to breathe steadily. Flashbacks of her previous memories rush through her eyes like a film, reminding her of the painful years she suffered and this strengthens her goal more.

A smirk danced upon her pink lips.

Now, realized that she was able to recognize her weaknesses and strengths, she would use her powers to her advantage. After all, nobody could stop her now, she must act wisely and use her powers properly but she still needs to be wary of her possible enemies.

"Since I'm only 14 years old now, I'll be patient and wait for the perfect time to strike my plan. I'll do this one step at a time and if it's already complete... I'll show the Empire my hatred, I'll let them feel my suffering for the last 1,000 years of my life. I'll spare no one including my family."